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Medica Health Plan September 2017 Medical Policy Updates

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Medica September 2017 Medical Policy Updates »

  • Notification Date: September 20, 2017

    Below are the policies that are new or have been reviewed, along with the determination and summary of any changes.

    Coverage Policies

    Policy Title
    Status
    Effective Date
    Determination
    Summary of Change
    Gastric Electrical Stimulation
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Covered for some indications; investigative and therefore not covered for all other indications.
    No change in determination
    Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Covered for some indications; investigative and therefore not covered for all other indications.
    No change in determination
    Minimally Invasive Sacroiliac Joint Fusion for Low Back Pain
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Investigative and therefore not covered.

    Title change: Formerly titled Sacroiliac Joint Fusion

    No change in determination
    Salivary Hormone Tests
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Investigative and therefore not covered.
    No change in determination
    Surgical Interruption of Pelvic Nerve Pathways for Treatment of
    Pelvic Pain (e.g., Presacral Neurectomy and Uterosacral Nerve)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Investigative and therefore not covered.
    No change in determination
    Wireless Capsule Endoscopy (CE) and Capsule Technology to Verify Patency Prior to Capsule Endoscopy
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Covered for some indications; investigative and therefore not covered for all other indications.
    No change in determination

    Utilization Management

    Policy Title
    Status
    Effective Date
    Determination
    Summary of Change
    Genetic Testing for Cardiac Channelopathies (III-DIA.05)
    Re-reviewed
    09/20/2017
    Enhanced benefit
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.
    Changes in medical necessity criteria:
    • Genetic testing considered medically necessary for Short QT Syndrome meeting specified criteria.
    Magnetic Esophageal Ring for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (III-SUR.42)
    New
    11/20/2017
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.

    Prior Authorization is now required.

    Medically necessary when all the following criteria are met:

    • Objective evidence of GERD defined by one of the following:
    -An abnormal pH study
    -Dysplasia as evidenced by endoscopy.
    • A diagnosis of refractory GERD, as evidenced by all of the following:
      -Failure of PPI medication
      -Failure of other nonsurgical treatments such as weight loss, smoking cessation, and avoidance of trigger foods.
    • No documented contraindications:
    -No suspected or known allergies to titanium, stainless steel, nickel, or ferrous materials
    -No implanted devices such as defibrillators or pacemakers
    -No hiatal hernia greater than 3 cm in size.
    • Written documentation in the medical record must include a description of all trials of conservative therapy including the length and results of treatment.
    Autologous Cultured Chondrocyte Transplantation for the Knee (III-SUR.35)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.

    Title change: Removed “Carticel” from the title. Formerly titled Autologous Cultured Chondrocyte (Carticel™) Transplantation for the Knee

    Changes in medical necessity criteria:

    • FDA approved product was added as a requirement.
    • Wording changed: corresponding chondromalacia (kissing) lesion requirement was replaced with corresponding lesion on opposing surface.
    Definitions:
    • Expanded definition of autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACT) to include first, second and third generation ACT. In addition, FDA approved products are listed.
    Genetic Testing for Cardiomyopathies (III-DIA.07)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.
    No change to medical necessity criteria
    Genetic Testing for Susceptibility to Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (III-DIA.04)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.
    No change to medical necessity criteria
    High Frequency Chest Wall Compression (HFCWC) Devices (III-DEV.20)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.
    Changes in medical necessity criteria:
    • Removed sub criteria for bronchiectasis.
    Home Health Aide (III-HOM.02)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.
    No change to medical necessity criteria
    Knee Arthroplasty /Replacement (III-SUR.41)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.
    No change to medical necessity criteria
    Medicaid Home Care Nurse (HCN) Services (III-HOM.05)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.
    Changes in medical necessity criteria:
    • Physician services have been expanded to include advanced practice registered nurse and physician assistant.
    Definitions:
    • Updated to include advanced practice registered nurse and physician assistant.
    Medicaid Home Health Aide (III-HOM.04)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.
    Changes in medical necessity criteria:
    • Residence service location has been expanded to include services in the community where normal life activities take the recipient.
    Definitions:
    • Updated to include above expanded service location.
    Personal Care Assistance (III-HOM.03)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Medically necessary for a select population of patients.
    No change to medical necessity criteria

    Clinical Guidelines

    Policy Title
    Status
    Effective Date
    Determination
    Summary of Change
    Management of Benign Uterine Conditions (VI-GYN.01)
    Re-reviewed
    11/20/2017
    Guideline addresses medically appropriate conservative treatments for selected indications.
    		 No changes in guideline criteria.

 

Medica September 2017 Medical Policy Updates »

 

 

Policy Alerts monitors Commercial and Medicare medical policies for changes. While Payers typically update medical policies annually, there are many reasons why a Payer might review or update a policy. When reviews occur out of cycle, they may go unnoticed. Policy Alerts keeps you informed of upcoming and unexpected coverage changes affecting your product. Quickly understanding the changes Payers make can help you adjust reimbursement strategies impacting your business.

Policy Alerts continuously monitors Commercial and Medicare Payer coverage information to keep you up-to-date on Payer decisions in real-time. Whenever changes occur, email notifications containing a summary of those changes are delivered to your inbox. Clients can access detailed coverage reports and medical policies on the interactive Dashboard portal. Save time and keep focused on the important Payer medical policy reviews and coverage decisions affecting your product!

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Health economic and reimbursement information provided by Policy Alerts is gathered from third-party sources and is subject to change without notice as a result of complex and frequently changing laws, regulations, rules and policies. This information is presented for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute reimbursement or legal advice.

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